Let’s face it, as a new dog owner, you probably haven’t thought too much about puppy socialization. However, this is a very important part of dog training. Many cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known how to socialize a puppy.

Why Is It So Important To Socialize Your Dog?

When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary.

It’s better to start socializing your dog while he’s still a puppy. You may not know that the best age to socialize a puppy is when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks. A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people. This helps to prevent aggressive dog behavior towards strangers when he gets older.

However, it’s never too late to socialize your dog. It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.

What’s The Best Way To Socialize A Puppy?

Actually it’s not that difficult to socialize your dog, if you’re willing to make a little effort.

Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool. This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners. Usually there are about 10 puppies and their people, along with a couple of dog trainers. During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.

But the obedience lessons aren’t the most important part of puppy preschool. The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills. During the play sessions, the puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to play with each other. Why is this important?

First, your puppy is learning how to get along with unfamiliar dogs.

Second, since there are other dog owners and a couple of dog trainers present, this means lots of unfamiliar people, too. This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.

Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized. This mistaken idea can lead to problems later on.

It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places. Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons. By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing canine aggression towards strangers.

Here’s some food for thought: even though your puppy has learned basic skills during his first few months, it’s important to keep reinforcing puppy socialization lessons throughout your dog’s life.

Darlene Norris worked at a vet clinic and an animal shelter, and has had lots of experience with dogs. Visit her new website, No More Bad Dogs, to learn more about puppy socialization. Discover which dog training course she recommends at http://NoMoreBadDogs.com

OBEDIENCE TRAINING AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT OF PUPPY CARE
Dog obedience is an integral part of dog training and care. It forms the basic factor in puppy care. Obedience training is a very general expression, and holds pivotal place in a dog’s behavior. It is very much dependent on the choice of the training techniques made by you or the dog training school you opted for.
It brings the following points into consideration:
1. It helps in strengthening the close and strong bonding between you and your pet.
2. By adopting the above technique, one becomes more familiar of the dog behavior
3. Dog training and obedience has certain rules and regulations which helps in teaching
the dog the basic manners, his behavior with the other animals, and people, thereby
teaching him to become a responsible member of the society.
4. It forms the basis which helps in preventing the growth of unacceptable dog behavior problems like barking, jumping, digging, chewing etc.

The advantages resulting from Dog Training and Obedience are as follows:
• One becomes more responsive to the dog behavior problem. It diminishes the confusion existing between you and your dog making him aware of the right and wrong actions.
• It helps in strengthening a happy and strong relationship, there by fun and rewarding for both of you.
• With this, the dog becomes more responsible and dependable. He can enjoy greater freedom of his master leading him more relaxed confident and happy .It aids in making the dog more obedient. The dog will start understanding the commands given by his master as “sit down”, come here etc which gives the feeling of reassurance to his master.
• Obedience training in puppy care is helpful in building the pet’s feeling of being safe. He understands what his master wants from him and what he is expected to do in a particular circumstance. He will always believe that his master will always be fair and consistent with him.
• When the dog is trained under obedience training, he is comfortable with other members of the family, friends, and kids under supervision.
• Dog obedience training integrates some essential requirements of your pet which comprises of regular exercise, devoting time with him, providing him with a job, mental stimulation etc.
Obedience training is a long process which can be practiced step by step over a period of time. It enables the dog to gain additional skill and knowledge commands thereby gaining confidence. He will consider you as a strong and fair leader and look for your guidance.

Tips to be undertaken while practicing dog obedience training:
• Motivating the dog and praising him when he does something good. Also correct him when he does not act as per your commands.
• Constantly repeating the commands and action is a must. You as a master have to be consistent in your actions.
• Never punish the dog, as it will be unfair.
• The training sessions should be short and full of fun. The commands should be short and easy.
• You can introduce your own innovative skills in the training process.
It should be undertaken in the routine training of the dogs. It enhances the trust and mutual respect of your dog. He becomes more efficient in Dog training and care.